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Blockade Getting Worse... Now Amtrak Affected

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Posted by Euclid on Thursday, March 5, 2020 3:40 PM

Miningman

Yes, this is ominous for the economic future of Canada.  It is a very insightful article that ought to wake people up as to what this has been about and what the outcome now is.  This is government guided by guilt trip.  All details are not yet known, but you almost don't need them once you realize what Trudeau thinks.  In that sense, what we see up until now was predictable.  Not enforcing the law against this blockading of trains was just the tip of the iceberg. 

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Posted by Miningman on Thursday, March 5, 2020 5:16 PM
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Posted by York1 on Thursday, March 5, 2020 6:13 PM

Miningman
More and new Fallout. Warren Buffett nixes Canada!

 

This one is really a strange one.

Buffett's company is sitting on over $120 billion cash, earning almost nothing in returns, and investors are wondering why they have not bought or invested in any companies lately.

If Buffett pulls out of a project at this time, it is really a bad sign.

York1 John       

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, March 5, 2020 8:50 PM

Does Canada have a vote of confidence type government ?  If so these last pull outs of investment might bring on one ?    

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Posted by Miningman on Thursday, March 5, 2020 9:38 PM

[quote user="blue streak 1"]

Does Canada have a vote of confidence type government ?  If so these last pull outs of investment might bring on one ?    

Yes we do ...but ...the opposition Conservative's, although second largest in parliamentary seats, are in the minority. There are 3 other parties, 2 are Socialist, very hard left, anti capitalist, and get want they want by propping up the non majority Liberals and the other is the Quebec Bloc which gets what it wants for Quebec only and their perfect society by backing the Liberals.  None align at all with the Conservatives and so a vote of non confidence will fail. 
 
Another factor is that a sitting member of parliament gets a diamond platinum pension for life after only 6 years, so they look after themselves that way too. They make darn sure they get their 6 years in. 
Eventually there will be a betrayal but it has to be advantageous to the party and its members, certainly not to the concerns of the citizens. Of course they spin that as principles. 
 
 
 
 
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Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, March 6, 2020 6:52 AM

That's what elections are for.  If it is as bad as you say,  the people will toss out Trudeau. It's not like one party has ruled for the last 20 years. 

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Posted by Miningman on Friday, March 6, 2020 8:52 AM

There has to be an election every 4 years and that's when pendulums swing. What Blue Streak was asking is if the government can be brought down beforehand and the answer is yes it can. A vote of non confidence could happen. The government is in a minority situation and could be toppled by the other parties but the way they align makes it unlikely at this time. 

Also I do not know of another country that has the equivalent of a Bloc Québécois, but I'm sure there is one. 

 

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Posted by Fred M Cain on Friday, March 6, 2020 9:39 AM

Here is another rail vs. highway scenario:  I wonder what would happen if these activists would start blocking some of Canada's major highways.  I suspect the police would bring that to a swift end.  There seems to be no end to pro-highway bias.

Fred M. Cain

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, March 6, 2020 10:24 AM

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that when the Tories came to power in 1976 or 1977 (not sure of the year) that Joe Clark became the new PM, which is probably why they don't raise the competence issue too loudly.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, March 6, 2020 11:29 AM

How about a break from the gloom for a story about those hard-chargin' Canadian Paras in the last days of WW2?   Out in front and getting it done!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWcRl7Q7pGs   

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Posted by Convicted One on Friday, March 6, 2020 5:03 PM

Miningman
that's when pendulums swing

Sometimes a good pendulum swing (either way) is not necessarily a bad thing.

If I read your earlier linked story correctly, the primary intended benefit of the pipeline was to divert fuel away from "the deeply discounted US market" to the west coast for export to more lucrative markets?

As a US consumer who enjoys  a well supplied market place, I don't find much enthusiasm for anything that will give rise to my cost of living.

Perhaps once in a while its good that  unfettered capitalism takes one on the chin, just to foster balance, and give validation to that pendulum.

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Posted by Euclid on Saturday, March 7, 2020 7:52 AM

The news reports on this protest seem to have drifted into ambiguity over the last three weeks.  The last main point I heard was that Justin Trudeau had made an offer to the Wet’suwet’en Nation and their members were reviewing the offer for 10 days with the intent to decide whether to accept it.  Then much of the news seemed to suggest that the Wet’suwet’en Nation had accepted the offer and protests were ending.  But this article from a day ago seems to say that no agreement has yet been reached.

Can anyone here provide a clear explanation of where this dispute stands today, and what Mr. Trudeau offered to the Wet’suwet’en Nation as the government terms of the agreement?

 

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/its-up-to-all-wetsuweten-people-to-work-through-agreement-bellegarde

From the article:

“A joint statement by representatives of Wet’suwet’en Nation, the province and the federal government acknowledged they had not come to an agreement on the pipeline, and the company was expected to resume its work this week.

But they say the focus of the draft agreement is Wet’suwet’en rights and land title.” 

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Posted by Euclid on Saturday, March 7, 2020 11:14 AM

MidlandMike
 
 
 
Euclid
This stalemate can't go on forever. 

 

All the blockades except for the one south of Montreal have ended.

 

What is your source for that claim?

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Posted by Miningman on Saturday, March 7, 2020 12:21 PM
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Posted by MidlandMike on Saturday, March 7, 2020 6:25 PM

Euclid

 

 
MidlandMike
 
 
 
Euclid
This stalemate can't go on forever. 

 

All the blockades except for the one south of Montreal have ended.

 

 

 

What is your source for that claim?

 

It was widely reported.  Here is a recent article.

https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/03/05-future-of-remaining-canadian-blockade-to-be-announced-today

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Posted by Euclid on Sunday, March 8, 2020 11:10 AM

MidlandMike
Euclid
MidlandMike
Euclid
This stalemate can't go on forever. 

 

All the blockades except for the one south of Montreal have ended.

What is your source for that claim?

 

It was widely reported.  Here is a recent article.

https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/03/05-future-of-remaining-canadian-blockade-to-be-announced-today

 

I can’t read that TRAINS newswire story.  But the reason I ask for your source is that news seems somewhat ambiguous on the point.  It seemed to me that a lot of recent news has made it sound like the dispute has ended because the Wet’suwet’en Nation have agreed to review and consider the offer made by Justin Trudeau.  But as far as I can tell, they have not agreed to actually accept the offer, and this article clearly says they have not come to an agreement on the pipeline. 

Article from 3/4/20:

What will it take to end blockades? Indigenous community members warn deal may not be enough

BY EMERALD BENSADOUN GLOBAL NEWS

Posted March 4, 2020 6:35 pm

https://globalnews.ca/news/6625845/what-will-it-take-to-end-blockades/

Quotes:

Members of Canada’s Indigenous communities are warning that a new deal reached by the federal government and Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs may not be enough to end rail blockades that have disrupted the country’s economy.

 

When asked if there was anything the government could do to end the blockades quickly, he said only time would tell.

“Our lives have been blockaded for over 500 years. So I think a few days, weeks, years of trying to negotiate something, sit down and come to a peaceful resolution is not much to ask,” he said.

 

Is it really a negotiation if one side is holding rail transportation as a hostage?

*****************************************************

Here is an article from 3/2/20 (by John Ivison) that makes it clear nothing has yet been agreed to and that such a deal is likely to be a long ways off, if it can be achieved at all. The article makes it clear that no agreement has been reached and the blockades remain in place: 

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/john-ivison-a-deal-made-in-haste-but-the-blockades-are-still-in-place

Quotes: 

Members of Canada’s Indigenous communities are warning that a new deal reached by the federal government and Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs may not be enough to end rail blockades that have disrupted the country’s economy.

 

It said two “separate” topics were discussed – recognition of Wet’suwet’en rights and title, and the issues arising from the pipeline. It seems they were kept separate, even if they are clearly linked, because the chiefs would not budge on the latter.

Construction on the pipeline has re-started and Fraser was clear that as far as he is concerned, it has legal clearance.

But the chiefs remain opposed and Bennett recognized in an interview that “there is still a difference of opinion”.

As such, hopes about an end to the wave of protests may have been raised prematurely. 

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, March 8, 2020 1:42 PM

Unfortunately we don't know what's coming out of the discussions and we may never know. We will just have to take it as an article of faith that 'it's all good folks', that is after Justin emerges from the 2 week traditional food festival ceremony.  

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Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, March 8, 2020 8:32 PM

Euclid
Here is an article from 3/2/20 (by John Ivison) that makes it clear nothing has yet been agreed to and that such a deal is likely to be a long ways off, if it can be achieved at all. The article makes it clear that no agreement has been reached and the blockades remain in place:  https://nationalpost.com/opinion/john-ivison-a-deal-made-in-haste-but-the-blockades-are-still-in-place

The linked article is about a week old.  More recent articles show that the rail blocades have been taken down. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/03/07/trudeaus-latest-challenge-rail-blockades-canada-deal-reached/4985418002/

Of course they may pop back up if talks don't make progress.  Perhaps your article was refering to a blockade of the pipeline construction on the BC tribe's land.

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Posted by Euclid on Monday, March 9, 2020 10:02 AM

Apparently all the rail blockades in Canada have been removed and all blocked rail transportation has started again.  In is unclear as to whether the blockades were removed voluntarily by the protestors or whether the police dispersed or arrested the protestors and then removed the blockades.  If the blockades were removed by the protestors, it may have been done as a concession in exchange for the Government meeting some or all of the demands of the protestors.

If there was a settlement of the dispute that lead to the removal of the blockades, then it is unclear as to what the government offered in their part of the settlement.  It seems that this information is being withheld from the public. 

The most prominent point of the settlement that is widely reported by news is that Mr. Trudeau ended the dispute without the use of force.  But totally unclear is the reason why he was able to do that.  The optics of the matter seems to indicate that the government is worried about the optics of what Canada offered the protestors in the deal to end the dispute. 

Therefore, the government has not disclosed the details of the settlement of the dispute, or whether there actually has been a settlement.  It may be that the removal of the blockades resulted from a reason that had nothing to do with a settlement.  In any case, it has been reported that the Wet’suwet’en people remain opposed to the construction of the pipeline that was the original cause for the dispute in the first place. 

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Posted by Convicted One on Saturday, March 14, 2020 12:20 PM

Sympathy strike?  https://i.imgur.com/nSLl5fa.mp4

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Saturday, March 14, 2020 3:55 PM

Euclid

Apparently all the rail blockades in Canada have been removed and all blocked rail transportation has started again.  In is unclear as to whether the blockades were removed voluntarily by the protestors or whether the police dispersed or arrested the protestors and then removed the blockades.  If the blockades were removed by the protestors, it may have been done as a concession in exchange for the Government meeting some or all of the demands of the protestors.

If there was a settlement of the dispute that lead to the removal of the blockades, then it is unclear as to what the government offered in their part of the settlement.  It seems that this information is being withheld from the public. 

The most prominent point of the settlement that is widely reported by news is that Mr. Trudeau ended the dispute without the use of force.  But totally unclear is the reason why he was able to do that.  The optics of the matter seems to indicate that the government is worried about the optics of what Canada offered the protestors in the deal to end the dispute. 

Therefore, the government has not disclosed the details of the settlement of the dispute, or whether there actually has been a settlement.  It may be that the removal of the blockades resulted from a reason that had nothing to do with a settlement.  In any case, it has been reported that the Wet’suwet’en people remain opposed to the construction of the pipeline that was the original cause for the dispute in the first place. 

 

Perhaps you should head north and check this mystery out for yourself?  We'll expect a full report back by next Saturday.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, March 14, 2020 4:52 PM

Well, since we haven't heard from our Canadian friends lately concerning this issue I'd assume the worst is over and things are slowly getting back to normal.

I'll have to check the National Post later to see what the latest is, if there is any latest.  Maybe COVID-19's got the protestors running for cover too?  

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Saturday, March 14, 2020 5:06 PM

Convicted One

Sympathy strike?  https://i.imgur.com/nSLl5fa.mp4

 

   Something puzzles me.  Before anything happened, the photographer happened to have his camera (or phone) trained on the right spot.  In the first few seconds, the site of the slide was slightly off center, and he centered it before anything even moved.

_____________ 

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Posted by Convicted One on Saturday, March 14, 2020 5:29 PM

Seems overtly opportune that the camera just happened to have been pointed at the right spot.

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, March 14, 2020 5:40 PM

Paul of Covington
 
Convicted One

Sympathy strike?  https://i.imgur.com/nSLl5fa.mp4 

   Something puzzles me.  Before anything happened, the photographer happened to have his camera (or phone) trained on the right spot.  In the first few seconds, the site of the slide was slightly off center, and he centered it before anything even moved.

Traditional 'slide' locations are a known - given the conditions that are known to cause slides are in place - go to the slide location and wait (hopefully in a position that you won't be a victim of the slide.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Convicted One on Saturday, March 14, 2020 5:54 PM

Flintlock76
Maybe COVID-19's got the protestors running for cover too?  

With shortages on store shelves during a health emergency, I suspect that its no longer fashionable to obstruct commerce.

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, March 14, 2020 5:58 PM

Convicted One
 
Flintlock76
Maybe COVID-19's got the protestors running for cover too?   

With shortages on store shelves during a health emergency, I suspect that its no longer fashionable to obstruct commerce.

Have not been hearing any Covid-19 stories from the Great White North - has the virus been frozen out?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Convicted One on Saturday, March 14, 2020 6:16 PM

BaltACD
Have not been hearing any Covid-19 stories from the Great White North - has the virus been frozen out?

Haven't you heard about the superior national heathcare they have up there?  Hmm

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/the-latest-numbers-of-covid-19-cases-in-canada-as-of-march-14-2020

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Posted by Convicted One on Saturday, March 14, 2020 6:26 PM
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Posted by Miningman on Saturday, March 14, 2020 7:49 PM

Re blockade in Canada-- it was all discussed in depth and with answers on this thread above March. 7th-9th. 

No information whatsoever has come out of the discussions on any of the specifics.

 

As for Corona- many events and public gatherings are on hold. Ontario has closed all schools for 2 weeks as have other provinces. The Prime Ministers wife has tested positive after returning from Spain. The Prime Minister has tested negative. BC has the most problems so far. 

Here in Saskatchewan we have 2 cases so far, a firefighter in Saskatoon and a Doctor in Saskatoon who just returned from Egypt. The Juno awards, held in Saskatoon this year, have been cancelled. 

Our Co-oP store was way busier than usual yesterday. There were 10 carts in every aisle which makes for challenging navigation and although not a panic it was a focused determination.  Yup, TP shelves were empty and carts rolled out from the back never made it to the shelves, no chance to restock, they were picked clean in minutes. I think I got the last spray bottle of Lysol, one left on a lonely shelf that's usually full. 

Here is this mornings announcement from the Prime Ministers Office.

Assiciated links below the bulletin on general Covid -19 responses

Prime Minister speaks with National Indigenous Leaders on efforts to address the impact of COVID-19


March 13, 2020
Ottawa, Ontario

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Perry Bellegarde, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Natan Obed, and Vice-President and National Spokesperson for the Métis National Council David Chartrand, to discuss the COVID-19 outbreak and the measures taken by the Government of Canada to limit the spread of the virus in Canada.

Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller provided an update on the work being done by Indigenous Services Canada with Indigenous partners to support preparedness, and acknowledged the unique challenges faced by Indigenous people due to socio-economic gaps that still exist. Minister Miller stressed that the Government of Canada is committed to working with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation leaders to ensure their communities have the full support they need during this outbreak, and to regular communication with Indigenous partners and provinces and territories.

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam also participated in these discussions. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Government of Canada is taking a whole-of-government, comprehensive, and coordinated approach to respond to COVID-19, and that the well-being and safety of Indigenous peoples and all Canadians is the Government’s top priority.

The Prime Minister highlighted the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to work with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation leaders to fund and support preparedness and mitigation measures in their communities. This new funding builds on previous investments to help ensure health care measures, supplies, and equipment are in place, and provide Indigenous communities with accurate information, training for health care providers, and support to ensure health risk plans are up-to-date, follow best practices, and are culturally and regionally responsive.

The Prime Minister and Indigenous leaders committed to continued collaboration in combating the COVID-19 outbreak.

Associated Links


PMO Media Relations: media@pmo-cpm.gc.ca
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca

 


 

 

 

 

 

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